Process of making vanilla extract.



J. K. GOWEN. PROCESS OF MAKING VANILLA EXTRACT.

APPLICATION P ILED MAR. 16, 1910 I 1,01 0,043, Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

5 Q 3 W 4 m m N a W m mi 2 mm m 2 I m 4 w m y l \m W A. I V 2 W 1w 7 2 vM 0 II 55: E55, A E22?! 3 I m% m% M JOHN K. GUN EN, F NEWARK, NEWJERSEY.

PROCESS OF MAKING VANILLA. EXTRACT.

aoraoas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 238, 1911,

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 549,716.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN K. GownN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of MakingVanilla Extract; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tocharactersvof reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention has reference to a novel process or method of digestingvegetable matter, and especially vanilla beans; tonka beans, roots,herbs, barks, spices, and the like; and, the invention has for itsprincipal I object to provide a novel, simple and. very eificient methodor process of producing alcoholic extractions or tinctures of vegetablematter in the manner hereinafter more particularly set forth.

With these objects in view, the invention consists, primarily, in thenovel method or process of mechanically and chemically digestingvegetable matter, such as vanilla beans, tonka beans, roots, herbs,barks, spices, and the like. I

In connection with the method or process to be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth, I prefer to employ an apparatus of the generalarrangement and combination of devices and parts represented in theaccompanying drawing, although it will be clearly evident that any otherconvenient apparatus suitable for the purposes of the present inventionmay be employed.

I Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in whichis shown a vertical section of one form of apparatus suitable forthepurposes of this invention, the reference-character 1 indicates asuitable container, which may be of any suitable size and configuration,the lower portion of the body of said container being preferably madewith a cone-shaped portion 2, which is formed with a suitable outlet, as3. The said ,outlet or nozzle thus formed is provided with a suitablyconstructed shut-oil, as 4, in the form of a valve or gate. with whichis connected a suitable outlet pipe or duct 5. Resting upon the upperportion of said container or main body 1 is a suitably formed cover, as6, which is provided with a bearing 7 of any suitable construction. Thesaid cover or plate 6 is secured down upon a packing or gasket8,'resting upon the marginal edge of the container or body 1, by meansof a fastening device, preferably in the form of a yoke 9, thedownwardly depending end-portions 10 of which are detachably connectedwith studs or projections, as 11, or other suitable holding meansextending from opposite sides of the said container or body 1. The saidyoke also has a hearing, as 12, in alinement with the bearing 7 of thecover 6, suitable screws or bolts, as 13, being employed, for securingthe parts in their assembled relation, when the cover is to be tightlyfastened down upon the said container or body 1. Resting loosely andremovably upon an annular shoulder 14, or other supporting means, withinsaid container or body 1, preferably in the lower part thereof, is adisk 15 which is provided with a socketed hub 16, forming apedestalbearing, and provided further with suitable lifting devices, asscrew-eyes 17, when it is desired to remove the disk 15 from within saidcontainer or body 1. Rotatably and rcmovably arranged in said bearings 7and 12,

and supported in the socketed hub 16, is a 1 vertical shaft or spindle18, which is pro vided upon its upper portion which extends above theyoke 9 with any suitably formed and well known driving means, as 19.Suitably mounted upon said shaft or spindle 18 is a cross-bar, as 20,with which are connected suitably formed agitators, as 21. Extendinginto the upper portion of said container or body 1 is a pipe or duct 22,provided with a valve 23, for forcing air or other medium, underpressure, into said container or body, when necessary. Thereference-character2 i indicates a suit-ably formed water-jacket,suitably connected with and surrounding the greater portion of saidcontainer or body 1, said water-jacket usually being provided with aninlet-pipe 25, in which is a valve 26, and an outlet-pipe 26 in which isa shut-off or valve 27.

In the lower chamber formed by the cone shaped bottom of the containeror body 1 and the disk 15 removably placed upon the support 14:, isarranged a strainer-like medium 28, of excelsior, cotton. or othersuitable material, through which the menstruum may percolateduring theprocess as it passes on its way to the outlet 3.

.method or process.

Having removed the cover or plate 6, and the vertical shaft and itsagitator from within the container, the disk 15 is placed in position.Within the chamber thus provided is placed the vegetable matter fortreatment by my novel method or process.

In carrying out my novel method or process I will describe the same moreparticularly in mechanically and chemically digesting vanilla beans, toproduce an extract or tincture. The vanilla beans in the desiredquantity and. in the ripened and proper state are first broken up, bychopping, grinding, or other suitable means, into small pieces, usuallyabout one-eighth inch in size, although the pieces of bean may underdifferent circumstances be even smaller or larger than one-eighth inch.The'broken or chopped pieces of bean are then-placed in the upperchambered portion of the con tainer or tank, sufficient water beingadded in which the bean is steeped for maceration, and the water havingbeen heated to the proper degree, usually 165 degrees Fahren- .heit,although this temperature may be varied, according to the kind andquality of bean, or other vegetablematter whlch is to be treated. Thecover or plate 6, with the spindle or shaft 18 and its agitator, arethen replaced in the manner shown in the drawing, the cover or plate 6being tightly secured against displacement by means of the yoke 9 andthe tightening screws 13. At the same time, the container or body 1 iskept hot by the admission of hot water or other heating medium into thespace formed by the water-jacket, the temperature of the said heatingmedium, being such, as to maintain an even or uniform temperature of themixture or contents within the container or body 1. During this time thesaid mixture or contents is subjected to agitation by the moving wingsor blades 21, this agitation or stirring of the liquid or semiliquidmixture continuing a suflicient length of time, from a few minutes totwo or more hours, according to the kind and quality of bean, or othervegetable matter, which is being treated. After this treatment,agitation is arrested, and the mixture or contents of the body 1 isallowed to set, until the temperature is reduced to eighty degreesFahrenheit, more or less. When the liquid or semi-liquid has thus beencooled to the required temperature, spirits (alcohol) in sutlieientquantity is added, through a suita'ile pipe 29 in which there is ashutoff or 'alve 30, or in any suitable manner, it being understood thatnone of the water is drawn off. The quantity of alcohol and waterusually used is 40 per cent. alcohol to 60 per cent. of water, althoughthis proportion may be varied, if found desirable. The temperature ofthe alcohol, water and bean, (or other vegetable matter which is beingtreated,) is now raised, usually to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, or m'ore'orless, according to. the material which is being treated, and theagitator is again set in operation. A gradual agitation of the menstruumis continued usually for three hours or such other period as may befound necessary according to the condition of the vanilla bean, or othervegetable matter which is being treated. The apparatus is now brought torest, and the contents of the container or body allowed to cool untilthe temperature is down to normal, the mixture being allowed to rest forat least one hour, although under certain conditions it is well to allowthe mixture toremain quiet for a longer period. The cap, cover, or plate6, with the shaft and its agitator, are again removed, and the disk 15is also, taken from within the interior of the container or body 1.Thereupon the cap, cover or plate 6 is again secured in its closingposition upon said container or tank 1, the valve 23 in the pipe 22opened, and air under sutlicient pressure admitted into the container ortank 1, so as to force the previously treated mens- I truum through thepercolator or straining medium in the lower cone-shaped portion of thecontainer or body 1, the menstruum finally flowing out of the pipeconnected with the lower portion of the container, as an extract ortincture, will be clearly understood.

It may be remarked that the ingredients used in my novel process ormethod may be used in the relative proportions as follows: vanillabeans, 7.5 parts to 60% water, and 40% alcohol, the strength of thelatter being proof.

While I have described my novel process or method in the production ofan extract or tincture from the vanilla bean, the same methodmr process,as has been previously stated, may also be used in the production ofextracts or tinctures from the tonka bean, and other vegetable matter,as roots, herbs, barks, spices, and the like.

Of course. it will be understood that any other suitably constructedapparatus adapted for the purposes of my present invention may beemployed in lieu of the form of apparatus shown in the accompanyingdrawing.

I claim:

1. The herein described process of mechanically and chemically digestingvanilla beans, comprising macerating the beans in water heated to notmore than 165 degrees Fahrenheit to produce such maceration, agi

tating such mixture, then allowing the mix ture to stand and cooling thesame to not less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, thereupon adding alcohol.and under pressure filtering the said mixture, substantially as setforth.

2. The herein described process of mechanically and chemically digesting-vanilla beans comprising macerating the beans in Water heated to notmore than 165 degrees Fahrenheit to produce such maceration, agitatingsuch mixture, then allowing the mixture to stand and cooling the same tonot less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, thereuponadding alcohol, graduallyraising the tenb perature of the alcohol, Water and the beans,

gradually agitating the mixture, then cooling the same, and underpressure filtering the said mixture, substantially and for the purposesset forth.

8. The herein described process of mechanically and chemically digestingvanilla beans eomprising macerating the beans in Water heated to notmore than 165 degrees Fahrenheit to produce such maceration, agitatingsuch mixture, then allowing the mixture to stand and cooling the same tonot less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, thereupon adding alcohol, graduallyraising the term perature of the alcohol, Water and the beans, graduallyagitating the mixture, then cooling the same, and finally adding airunder pressure and forcing; the menstruum through a percolating mediumfrom which it flows as an alcoholic extract or tincture, substantiallyand for the purposes set forth.

in testimony, that. I claim the invention set forth above I havehereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 19]..

JUHN K. GGVVEN.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, Fnnox. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

